Question

I’m using the code:

<h2>
<% random_bullets = Bullet.all %>
<ul>
  <% random_bullets.shuffle.first(4).each do |r| %>
<br>
    <li><%= db.save(r.content) %></li>
  <% end %>
</ul>
</h2>

to pull four random bullets from my db and post them to a page; what I’m trying to do is get them to save the bullets so they’re only randomized after the page is generated. Is there anything I can do to this code to achieve this? If not, what can I do to achieve this. The code is in embedded Ruby and the db is a sqlite3 database.

Answer 1

Setting random bullets and randomising belongs in your controller. Once there I recommend setting a cookie which contains an array of bullet.ids in order.
Then you can just iterate over the array if it exists else create a new one and save it.

In your controller:

if cookies[:bullets].nil?
  @bullets = Bullet.all.shuffle.first(4)
  cookies[:bullets] = @bullets.collect(&:id)
else
  @bullets = []
  cookies[:bullets].each do |id|
    @bullets << Bullet.find(id)
  end
end

in your view:

<ul>
  <% @bullets.each do |r| %>
    <li><%= r.content %></li>
  <% end %>
</ul>

Are you aware that it’s invalid html to put a <ul> within a <h2> or to put a <br> within a <ul>?